www.challengetargets.com Safety Overview
General Safety Rules
1. Treat all firearms as though they are loaded.
2. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until
you are on target and ready to shoot. Warning
3. Keep the muzzle in a safe direction at all times. Failure to read, understand, and follow the enclosed information
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it. prior to the use of our products greatly increases the risk of injury
or death. You should read and fully understand the enclosed
instructions prior to using our products.
Information about Shooting Steel Targets
When shooting steel targets, a “splatter zone” appears. This zone is the area in which the great majority of bullet fragments eventually wind
up. This zone can travel more than 20 yards with handguns and more than 75 yards with rifles. Most bullet splatter is deflected within a 25-
degree cone angle in a 360-degree direction from the surface face of the impacted steel target (See Figure A). This “splatter zone” will of
course, differ depending on the angle of impact. Since the splatter zone can only be minimized and never fully predicted, proper ANSI
approved shooting glasses with side shields MUST ALWAYS BE USED by shooters and spectators.
Ammunition and Bullet Design
Excerpts taken from the FBI Training Bulletin:
“A high quality, higher power factored ammunition is essential to reduce splatter. Simply stated, to minimize the size and pattern of splatter, drive
the projectile harder. Consequently, a lead bullet with a low velocity is the worst option for steel target shooting.”
“In the case of steel target training, the best bullet is a frangible style round. The high velocity, frangible design of such bullets creates a predictable
shattering effect upon impact.”
Another “desirable round to produce consistent splatter is a jacketed hollow-point with a velocity of 1125 fps.”
Challenge Targets tests our steel targets with high quality, handgun and rifle ammunition. We have experienced mostly consistent splatter patterns
with a wide range of FMJ, jacketed hollow-point, and soft point bullet designs, however, the purchasers and users of the targets are solely and
personally responsible for the safety and compatibility of ammunition used on our targets.
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Safety Guidelines for our target Head Assemblies
1. Always wear wrap around shatter resistant ANSI approved shooting glasses and hearing protection.
2. Never shoot shotgun slugs, hardened, steel core, or armor piercing ammunition at steel targets.
3. Long pants (no shorts), long sleeve shirts, brimmed hat, and closed toed shoes are recommended.
4. The minimum distance for our Handgun Head Assemblies is 10 yards.
5. The minimum distance for our Rifle Head Assemblies is 100 yards.
6. The minimum distance for shotgun lead, birdshot or buckshot is 15 yards (NO SHOTGUN SLUGS or STEEL SHOT).
7. Instructors and observers should stand behind the shooter and obey all safety rules.
8. Never use steel shot, BB’s or pellets on steel targets.
9. Only use ammunition with a muzzle velocity between 750 and 3,000 feet per second (fps).
10. Inspect target plates for damage and flatness periodically during shooting and before every use. Discontinue use if plates are not flat and free of
pits and craters.
11. Wood post should lean toward the shooter so the target surface is at a 5-30 degree downward angle.
12. Our target plates can be reversed periodically to maintain flatness. Reversing plates is a preventative measure. Do not shoot plates that are already
bowed or distorted.
13. The shooter should line up 90-degrees perpendicular to the target plate. The angle of target engagement should never exceed 20-degrees.
Challenge Targets products are intended for specific use as part of an inherently dangerous activity. Use only in the intended manner in compliance with
these safety guidelines. Even when used properly, the potential of injury or property damage exists. All risk of injury, damage, or use is assumed by the
purchaser or user of Challenge Targets products. Serious injury or death may result from the improper use or misuse of this product.
Bullet Splatter Zone (FIG A)
www.challengetargets.com
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